5G Status Update (April 2019)

Time for a 5G update!
There are a number of new announcements coming soon about the 5G standard, 5G
networks and even the very first 5G devices. The excitement around 5G is only
escalating. Many people have questions surrounding the topic of the new 5G
network and how it will affect them. Read on to get all your 5G questions
answered.

What is 5G?

So 5G stands for “5th
Generation of cellular standards.” The much anticipated arrival of the 5G
network revolves around its performance enhancements over 4G LTE. With a data
speed of 20Gbps peak / 1 Gbps average, 5G will provide fiber-like speed over a
cellular connection, lower latency for the real-time response necessary for AI
and VR applications, and the connection density to meet the massive demand for
the IoT.

AT&T and Verizon
have already sought federal government permission to do 5G connectivity trials
over the 28GHz frequency band. These will be fixed-site to fixed-site trials
using a version of the 5G standard. Previous trials with this technology have
demonstrated near-gigabit data speeds over distances of more than half a
kilometer.

When is 5G Coming?

Add politics to the list of obstacles 5G must navigate before it actually reaches consumers. Unlike previous generations of mobile communication standards, 5G will not rely on cell towers. Rather, 5G primarily will utilize small cells and antennas – that will be attached to existing infrastructure.

So what’s the problem?
Well, all installation approvals in the U.S. are handled by local governments.
Those local councils have historically based mobile network approvals on
regulations designed to govern cell towers. The now out-of-date regulations
could potentially make the 5G network approval process very slow for
carriers. Some have suggested local governments may see the 5G network
rollout as a revenue opportunity, and charge high fees for the necessary
installation permits.

However, some carriers
have already started 5G rollouts in major cities. Verizon just announced that
they will be rolling out 5G in 20 new cities and
parts of at least 30 cities in 2019. They are also taking pre-orders for the
Samsung Galaxy S10, which is the first 5G capable phone. AT&T’s release began with 5G
Evolution, which boosts 4G LTE network speeds for certain phones,
but their true 5G network will be usable when the new 5G capable phone is
released in summer of 2019.

Why are some cell carriers coming out with 5G phones or 5G
signal boosters?

In a competitive
environment, it’s only natural for carriers to want to be first to market. Some
will stretch the boundaries in order to make that claim. An example of this is
the “5Ge” icon being featured in AT&T’s marketing. The actual definition of
5Ge is “5G evolution”, meaning every enhancement in their network’s overall
performance is considered an evolution towards 5G. Yet, it’s not true 5G as per
industry specifications.

To improve performance
on the existing 4G LTE network, several operators perform what is called
“carrier aggregation.” This means combining up to three separate bands all at
once in an eort to provide faster data rates. Additionally, some are deploying
higher capacity antenna arrays on base stations (referred to as massive MIMO)
and going to higher orders of modulation (more bits per MHz). Many will claim
these service improvements qualify as 5G, but they’re just enhancements to
existing 4G LTE network.

Will 4G LTE Go Away Once There is 5G?

No, LTE will still
work once 5G is rolled out. The new 5G networks will be built alongside the 4G
LTE network and function along with it. 4G LTE networks will be an important
existing layer and survive well into 2030.

“New 5G service will
require the 4G LTE network to act as the fallback network when a user is not
covered by the new 5G service. This is an essential layer as 5G networks begin
to densify in the coming years.” says Chief Product Officer at Wilson
Electronics, Jeff Gudewicz.

Will I Need a Cell Signal Booster when 5G Comes?

Actually, you might
need a signal booster even more so when 5G is launched. The higher-frequency
radio waves that are proposed to carry 5G mobile communications don’t pass
through obstacles as easily as the frequencies now carrying 4G LTE service. At
those higher frequencies the shorter wavelength radio waves are blocked a lot
more easily by things like the walls of your house or the leaves on trees in
your front yard.

The 5G frequencies
also have a much shorter range than we’re used to with 4G frequencies. Some
research indicates 5G waves may have a viable range of well under a mile. By
contrast, 4G LTE waves commonly reach several miles, and under certain
atmospheric conditions can stretch as far as 30 miles.

Hence why a signal
booster would be able to overcome these challenges and bring you the strong,
reliable cell coverage that you expect inside your home or vehicle.